I had a remarkably creative mother. Our home was filled with tons of craft and art supplies to play with and dig through. My new painting, “Bugle Beads”, reminds me of going on a little journey through Mom’s bead collection. Daydreaming about what all these glittery and magical elements can become. Sifting through boxes of shimmering beads or watching the light dance along the surface of a dress she’d adorned with them.

I’d always despised the color pink - thinking it was wimpy and lacking life. Clearly I had been hanging around with all the wrong pinks. It might have been a sad misconception I picked up from my mom. She also hated pink.

Until she got to be about 80. One day she confessed drily, “I like pink. It is because I’m old, I guess. I don’t know. When you get to be an old lady you start liking pink.”

Then we laughed and laughed. But she wasn’t joking - she liked pink.

I started in painting with pink as an act of rebellion - surely REAL artists don’t use pink, do they?

I choose not just “pinky pink’ but what a friend refers to as “PANK” - bright, burn-your-retinas-pink. The pinkest pink of all pinks. Magenta. Fluorescent Pink. Hot Pink. I love them.

Sometimes the pink covers the background and sometimes it is a coloristic surprise as in my painting, Happy Catch.

Please forgive me pink. I was wrong. You add life and spice to my world.

Did you always think that life was going to be a straight line? That you'd figure out where you wanted to end up and then just tick off all the boxes and - ta da! - you'd automatically be where you wanted to end up?

When you are seven years old, everything is probably for you. At Christmas, this was especially true.

Adorable chocolate snowmen? Must be for me, right?Enormous poinsettia brooch with sparkles? Aw, I LOVE THEM!

Every gift that mom took out to wrap, I hoped was mine. Especially the cute ones. Mom had pretty soaps with sophisticated designs baked into them and boxes of chocolate that called my name.

"Who are those for?", I asked hopefully.

"Oh, these are for people who may visit us but who we haven't met yet."

If you haven't met them, why did you buy them a present?

"Well, no one should ever come into our home at Christmas and not get a present. Everyone should get something. No one is left out."

Mom gave everyone everything she could - no exceptions.

Sometimes people mom was kind to - people she took in or people she would feed - would steal something of ours and mom would brush it away breezily, "Ay! He probably needed it more than you. You can afford another one."

Hugs were extended to EVERYONE at first meeting.

After awhile, I realized that every gift, hug, or smile we give away always comes back in greater numbers.

Let's do something extra special for ourselves this year.

No matter what you celebrate or even if you celebrate anything - have an extra box of chocolate on hand or a big hug unwrapped and ready to go. We get so much more than we give away when we give with an open heart.

Have a beautiful week. Spread Love.

Amantha

Be groovy like my mom. Spread excessive amounts of love. Give more than you think you have. You will get so much more in return.

Last Thursday, November 10, Lexington MA held their annual-ish Art Walk. The Art Walk turns Lexington center to one big art gallery. Art is displayed in shop windows along our main street. Artists and guests met for a reception followed by a tour of the art on display. Our Tour Leader discussed important aspects about the artists' work and their motivations behind their pieces. about the various pieces. Many of the artists were on hand to chat about their work and their inspiration. We allowed ourselves to delve into the artworks on a cool fall night at the end of a tumultuous and nerve-wracking week. It was a lovely evening of art that was relaxing and uplifting.

For a time I was able to forget all my worries and fears. Crossing the main street I commented to a fellow artist "this is wonderful. It is amazing. Art REALLY DOES help - it TRULY CAN be uplifting and healing!" She responded with wry amusement, "Well, Amantha, that is funny to hear you say that considering that is what your work is all about."

"But I'm never on the receiving end!"

Was I a guinea pig? I had just maneuvered a maze of art and found a big hunk of peace at the end. "Man! This stuff REALLY WORKS!" I had been feeling so defeated and discouraged. With a renewed faith in the healing and helping power of art, I am going to work to help others get as much art as they possibly can into their days. We need the color and joy - we need to take care of ourselves when it seems to much that there are so many forces against us.

My first step is to launch a new Freebie section of my site. This is a library of my free downloads available to everyone*. It currently hold three items but will be expanded regularly.

If you could just take a minute, please share this page on social media. Everyone needs art and healing.

*Please remember that there work there is for personal use only. If you would like to license any of the work for publication or a design project please contact me to discuss rates.

As usual, I’m a teensy bit afraid to tell you this. But, already, I have to admit that that previous line is a bit of fakery.

I got hit by the Facebook-Drama truck recently. What a gift it was.

I've most of my 48 years cringing, wringing my hands and hanging back and hoping that you would like me. Please like me. And when I got old enough to speak my mind - um, at 35? - I also found that I would apologize and pacify - “Look, I have this opinion? and I um? Want to express it?”- states opinion and follows up with a lot of smiley faces and justifications why you should please please please still LIKE me even though we may disagree." Ew.

Last week I took a dramatic virtual lashing on my personal Facebook page for a post that ended with a promise to remain a force for good. It was just one troll but she really gave it to me. My phone detonated with the fiery support and love from many many people who were appalled. I defended my friends from the troll on my page. I argued my point and tried to remain kind to this person. On one hand I wanted to treat her with as much love as I could siphon out of my reeling soul while also maintaining the respect of my friends.

Later, I sat in the virtual wreckage with bits of cottony internet debris in my hair. What was the point of all that? Who was right and who was wrong? Would trophies be awarded? Who cares?

Yesterday I posted something to my personal wall and I wondered who would object and then I automatically added “shitty comments will be deleted” I fretted that people would be offended that said “shitty”. (“Hi! Father D.!’) I added a joke about that to soften it. But then I thought that I don't need to soften my desire on constructive approaches in our vitriolic world. and I am not taking any nonsense (see, I spared you a naughty word - you're welcome.)

So I popped back into my FB account and added that “those”comments will be deleted without explanation or apology.

Those four words strung together in a new way (for me) have just revolutionized my world.

Imagine no longer having to apologize or explain my thoughts or feelings? Is that a thing?

How did that happen? I don't know. But it felt really really good.

My resolution now - to live my life in my glorious and dramatic and loud fashion. To hug people on the street and not panic if a fresh word pops out. To continue to help others and be kind and do my thing - without apology or explanation.

I am not going to explain why oh why oh why you must agree with me.I am not going to fret about how the world does not get meDon't understand me.Whisper behind my back.Roll your eyes.As for me. I move forward. Without apology or explanation.

Join me.

Be yourself. Without apology or explanation. Comment below or email me here and tell me who you are and what you never need to justify again.